Thursday, September 2, 2010
Have a big goal? Mum's the word!
I know I usually post TED Talks on Tuesday, but this one was too intriguing to wait, plus it's only three minutes long. Apparently, we're more likely to achieve our big goals if we don't tell people about them. studies have found that excessive words lead to less action. So if you really want to accomplish something, be quiet and do it!
If you enjoyed this post, I hope you'll check out my new blog.
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Shut-up and Achieve! Sounds like a good mantra to base a life on :-)
ReplyDeleteHm, that's interesting. I wonder if there is a 3rd factor. Perhaps people who talk about their goals a lot already feel a resistance to them and for some reason feel like talking about them to others in order to get validation or encouragement in hopes that it will help them to overcome this resistance.
ReplyDeletePersonally I think it's funner to wait until a goal is finished before showing it off. For example a piece of artwork feels less amazing if I show it off before it's finished and it won't feel as amazing if everyone's already seen the gist of what I was working on. The thing that keeps me going is imagining the excitement I'll feel once I reach a goal. It's also the fact that I'm really wanting to tell someone but I can't until I'm done so the sooner I finish this goal the sooner I can tell someone and have them be amazed by me. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure glad you decided not to wait until Tuesday to post this. I entirely agree! I've often noticed that when I don't brag about my goals, I actually get them done! And now I know why that is, thanks to this vid. Cheers :)
ReplyDeleteHmm, I wonder which way the cause and effect is traveling in this scenario. I remember a friend who was a writer telling me that when people ask him "how do I get started in writing" he would tell them "don't worry about it, you won't, because if you really wanted it, you would be doing it by now." Harsh, but an interesting concept to separate the talkers from the doers.
ReplyDeleteKoda, yeah, I'm gonna give that mantra a try.
ReplyDeleteChris, yes, correlation does not equal causation and this was a very brief talk that didn't really delve into other possible factors.
John, you're adorable. :-) And I like your drawings.
Suz, glad you liked it.
Rhaco, wow! Makes me consider even how much time I spend on my blog when I could be doing "real" writing.
oh dear, i'm in trouble. this is good to know! thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteI wish now I hadn't told so many people about my new treadmill. LOL -- sigh.
ReplyDeleteI get this. I don't always follow it, but I get it.
ReplyDeleteIt took me a while to tell anybody I was going back to school, just because I was afraid I'd give it up again if I did and I wanted to avoid embarrassment.
Also got tired of telling people I was going to get my eyebrow pierced "one day" and just finally did it already. It was awesome.
I still hesitate greatly to tell people what i'm going to school for. Not so much because I'm afraid I won't reach that goal (though I am), but because I'm not entirely used to being taken seriously. And, you know, I belong at home. It's bad enough that I'm going to school in the first place.
Anyway, good post :) Agreed.
I am now slightly freaked out about telling anyone about anything I want to do in life, which is going to make me very boring at parties.
ReplyDelete@Donna, what treadmill? ;-)
Wait... but...
ReplyDeleteBlogging just feels so good! And Facebook just feels so good!
His explanation of the creation of a "social reality" set off a lot of alarm bells for me.
Sometimes the reason I don't tell anyone some goals is because I feel like I probably will give up before achieving it and I'd prefer nobody noticed if I didn't.
ReplyDeleteSometimes the reason I don't tell anyone some goals is because I feel like I probably will give up before achieving it and I'd prefer nobody noticed if I didn't.
ReplyDeleteHm, that's interesting. I wonder if there is a 3rd factor. Perhaps people who talk about their goals a lot already feel a resistance to them and for some reason feel like talking about them to others in order to get validation or encouragement in hopes that it will help them to overcome this resistance.
ReplyDeleteoh dear, i'm in trouble. this is good to know! thanks for posting!
ReplyDelete